Ssangyong Tivoli

When it comes to the interior of the Tivoli, you will be quite surprised to witness high-quality here. However, the layout has been kept simple and the housing for the buttons of dual-zone automatic climate control at the bottom of the centre console looks dated, to say the least.

Nevertheless, the three-spoke steering wheel with silver garnish and color changing dials in the instrument console make up for a very interesting driver’s cockpit. The tucked in theme for the rectangular touch screen infotainment system as well as the vertically stacked AC vents with silver finish beside them make the dashboard look plush and organized.

The Tivoli comes packed with all the necessary comfort and convenience features like cruise control, push-button start with keyless entry, steering mounted audio and Bluetooth controls with voice command functions, leather upholstery, and ventilated seats. The space inside is excellent at both front and rear.

Compared to the Ssangyong vehicles of the past, the Tivoli seems to be from a different world altogether as it was this vehicle that assured us that Ssangyong has the potential of making eye pleasing vehicles. However, the Tivoli has now existed for quite a long time, which makes it feel slightly bland in today’s world.

At the front, the Tivoli manages to appear wide thanks to angular trapezoidal headlamps which are adjoined by a sleek black grille with Ssangyong logo at the centre. The C-shaped fog lamp housings, as well as the black cladding on the front bumper, somehow make the front fascia look muscular.

The side profile of the Tivoli looks simple with almost negligible character lines on the front fenders and door panels. However, the haunch above the handle of the rear door somehow adds a unique character to the side profile of the SUV. The machined alloy wheels, as well as roof rails, are some of the premium bits which are definitely needed to prevent the Tivoli from looking bland.

The Tivoli looks slightly unappealing when viewed from the rear due to a plain rear door and small boomerang shaped vertical tail lamps. The chrome finishes around the rear reflectors on the rear bumper try to spice up things at the rear.

Built on a monocoque frame, the Tivoli’s chassis comes with Macpherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. With the urban driving conditions kept on priority, the Tivoli offers a plush ride quality setup. However, the party trick here is the smart steering configurations, which offer three different modes – Comfort, Normal, and Sport.

The Ssangyong Tivoli is offered with a 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder gasoline engine. Available in both with options of 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearboxes, this engine produces a maximum power of 128 PS and a peak torque of 160 Nm.

The Ssangyong Tivoli is armed with safety features like dual front SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, and a reverse camera with parking sensors. Given the slightly premium positioning, the Tivoli could have been equipped with a few more safety features on board.

The Tivoli was one such a vehicle which turned the fortunes of Ssangyong globally and it has all the right ingredients to make it a sure shot hit. It offers a decent mix of ride quality, essential equipment, and performance which makes it a very practical vehicle for upgrading from a small hatchback.